LITTLE ROCK — Richard “Rick” William Taber, 54, of North Little Rock passed away in Little Rock on Monday, April 22, 2013, following a brief battle with cancer.

He was born in Highland, Ill., to Clinton Kelley Taber and Rosemary Murphy Taber.

He was preceded in death by his parents and by siblings Clinton Kelley Taber Jr., Linda Taber Poneta, Patricia Taber Morgan and Robert Taber.

Prior to suffering a traumatic brain injury in 2004, Rick was an award-winning newspaper and television journalist. He held many different positions in the news industry, reporting for and then editing the Press Argus-Courier in Van Buren and the Greenwood Democrat. He started as a cameraman in television news and worked in a number of technical positions before becoming a newscast producer at both KHBS in Fort Smith and KATV in Little Rock.

Rick was a loving father who impressed kindness and acceptance upon his children. He was also a wonderful son, brother, uncle and friend. He enjoyed playing guitar and listening to music. Cooking, photography, fishing and camping were among his hobbies. He was writing a novel at the time of his brain injury.

The family gives special thanks to Rick’s caregivers at Timber Ridge NeuroRestorative for the many years of loving and compassionate care they provided following his brain injury. The family also thanks Baptist Medical Center ICU S staff and the staff at Hospice Home Care for the end-of-life care that Rick received from them.